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Snyder's State of the State tonight to touch on immigration, seniors, tax cuts, roads

2014 State of the State address

What: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's 2014 State of the State addressWhen: 7 p.m. ThursdayWhere: Delivered in the House chamber, at the state Capitol, to a joint session of the LegislatureShown live on: Public TV stations.Heard live on: Michigan Public Radio Network stations across the state and other stations.Seen online at:michigan.gov/snyderOn Twitter: Follow Crain's Capitol Correspondent at @ChrisGautz for live reports before, during and after the governor's address.

In his fourth State of the State address tonight, Gov. Rick Snyder is expected to remind Michigan residents what has been accomplished in the past three years. He is also expected to press for legislative items that have stalled, and offer new proposals on immigration and seniors.

The governor is also expected to again press for transportation funding, though not the push he gave in his 2013 State of the State, the one the Legislature never took him up on due to the annual $1.2 billion price tag.

Some revenue-neutral options he could go after include shifting the tax to one paid at the wholesale level rather than at the pump, or using state budget surplus money for one-time road repairs.

Other issues expected to be a part of the address is Snyder's support for immigration reform to make Michigan a more welcoming state for immigrants, which may come in the form of a new state agency or department. He is also expected to talk about ways to improve access to Meals on Wheels and other needed services for senior citizens.

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, told Crain's today that there will be discussion of what to do with the $1 billion budget surplus. "I don't think you'll find we are going to just create a new program and start spending money left and right," Richardville said. "We have shown over three years fiscal restraint and responsibility."

Richardville expects the governor will talk about increasing the state's rainy day fund, and, in general terms, returning some of the money to taxpayers.

Richardville said any spending of the surplus revenue would most likely be in the area of education, specifically early childhood education. Snyder is expected to talk about increasing education funding, putting an emphasis on those in the STEM fields and potentially indicating support for, or a willingness to talk about the idea of year round school in Michigan.

There could also be more funding that goes into the transportation system, but not at the level for which Snyder has previously called.

Minimum wage

One thing Snyder is not expected to talk about is the state's minimum wage. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer, who was at the Capitol meeting with reporters earlier in the day, said he would like to see Snyder talk about support for increasing the minimum wage.

Schauer said it would benefit a million workers in the state and is the right thing to do. "The economics work," he said. "It's wildly popular with the public. If Rick Snyder continues to sit on the sidelines on that issue, it will be one more reason why he loses his re-election."

Richardville pointed out that at $7.40 an hour, Michigan's minimum wage already exceeds the federal government's $7.25 an hour. "Mark continually talks about putting more burdens on businesses than what they have already," Richardville said.

Snyder floats potential for state assistance for Detroit

While it is not expected to be part of his address tonight, word leaked Wednesday that Snyder is pitching a proposal for the state to match the $350 million needed to help protect the collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts and the pensions of former city employees. The move would be a way for the state to match the $330 million that private foundations are pledging to help protect the art at the DIA from being sold with the city in bankruptcy court.

Schauer said this shouldn't have had to have been a discussion point because Snyder swore to uphold the state Constitution that says public employee pensions should not be impaired or diminished. He said Snyder should have never included pension cuts for Detroit retirees as part of the bankruptcy filing.

"Rick Snyder started this fire and he should put it out," Schauer said.

Schauer said it is up to the Legislature and Snyder for how to protect the pensions; he did not offer his own solution.

Richardville said no formal proposal for such a matching fund has been made by the governor, but said there could be some announcement in the next few weeks.